The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 5: All Good People
Scene 4: Cause it's Time

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Cause it's time and time with your time and its news

Is captured...

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5.4
Cause it's Time

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Five hover-skimmers were traveling about 200 feet above the ground, parallel to a chain of active volcanoes, which was riven by rivers of lava. For vulcan-built machines, they looked surprisingly like snowmobiles - at least the top half. Each supported two riders in tandem with the one in front driving. The resemblance ended there, however.

Instead of handlebars, the driver had a virtual console and instead of a pair of skids followed by a pair of tracks, the vehicle was mounted on what appeared to be a composite slab with six legs, each of which included an antigrav unit and a landing foot. The second seat had a wraparound science console.

Each of the five hover-skimmers was piloted by a marine with a scientist riding second seat - the first four in the line each had a scientist from the Denobulan Planetary Society. The 5th vehicle was piloted by Sgt. Chavez Lone Wolf with Lt. Commander Senek, the Beagle's science officer, riding second seat.

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Anyone who knew Senek would have said this work was good for him. The mournful expression was gone - replaced by intense concentration on the readings across his consoles. Long, golden blonde hair flying out behind him. He put in a call to the denobulan assistant director who was in the lead skimmer. "Risl, I'm picking up two very interesting readings. Have you noticed the carbon content in the iron?"

Assistant Director Risl Phynyx's voice came back to him through the skimmer's comm system: "Very interesting reading, Lieutenant Commander. Carbon levels indicate a very high degree of processing. Given the layer we're picking it up in, I would estimate between 15 and 40 thousand years ago someone either refined or brought a significant amount of high quality steel here."

"Are you seeing some interesting molecular dynamics with the silicon in those same layers?" Senek asked.

"Silicon-based?" asked Risl Phynyx. "I suppose those readings might indicate organic activity. But there's no evidence of any wide-spread environment that would lead to the development of silicon-based life."

"Not on this planet," Senek replied.

"Something from another solar system - or from somewhere else in this one?" Risl asked.

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"Yes," Senek responded.

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Risl Phynyx was confused: "What? Which one?"

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Risl's sister, Tetri Phynyx, the director of the Denobulan Planetary Society's representation within the Beagle's faculty, had been listening in. She was at base camp for the group inside the small, personnel shuttle that was supporting this mission, gathering information from the field survey group on the skimmers. "What are you talking about, Senek?"

"Tetri, can you patch me through to Commander Holland on the Beagle?" Senek asked.

Instead of answering, the elderly denobulan scientist simply opened the channel. "Commander Holland, please stand by for communication with Lieutenant Commander Senek."

"Go ahead, Senek," came Dutch Holland's voice.

"Commander, would you please add Dean Nakamura Holland to this discussion?" Senek asked.

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"Stand by"

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A moment later, Sakura Nakamura Holland's voice came through the link, "What have you got, Senek?"

"I am sending you some readings we picked up in a layer of volcanic rock that was laid down between 15 and 40 thousand years ago" said Senek. "I suspect you will find similar readings in the metallurgy of that ancient space station. You might also take some readings on the planets orbiting Minor Serrat. We have some readings that indicate silicone-based organics."

"The age range would almost coincide with about the time we estimate Minor Serrat Station was abandoned," Sakura replied. "Actually, it would be somewhat more recent. Preliminary analysis indicates this station was abandoned closer to 70 thousand years ago."

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"Then we should consider the possibility that the intelligent life form that abandoned Minor Serrat Station may have subsequently survived on this planet for tens of thousands of years," Senek concluded.

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5.4